Trenching machine



Dec. 27, 1932. G. A. VAUGHN ET AL TRENCHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 26, 1931 3 snee-ts sheet -1 Dec. 27, 1932. VAUGHN 1,892,521

TRENCHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 26, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES mes oiFFmE' enoiten a; VAUGHN AnncnAnLns. L. enonen. or rinnLAY, 01:10.: assrenons T0 a'nnnncKEYn 'rrmc'rron nrronnn company, or FINDLAY, 01:10, A CORPORATION OF OHIO -'rnnivonine MACHINE Amman filed December 26, 193;. Serial no. 5s3,3sa.

This invention relates to trench excavating machines of the bucket-chain type, and particularly to thosewherein the boom which guides the movements of the buclret-chaln v1s adjustable in a vertical plane and 1s also bodily adjustable laterally of a trench being d ug while remaining parallel therewith. 1

An object of the invention is the provlslon of an improved mounting for the boom of trench excavating. machines, whereby the handling of the boom and the adjustment thereof in a vertical plane is failitated, whereby to enhance the practicability and commercial values of machines of this type.

Another object of the invention-is to so mount the boom ina machine of the class described, wherein the boom is capable of compound swinging movements in a vertical plane, that the associated power shaft forthe bucket-chain is offset from the various axes of adjustment of the boom and is relieved of all boom strains. I V

Further objects and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following detailed description. and from the accorn panying drawings, which illustrate one em bodiment of the invention and in which Figure 1 is aside elevation of a trenching machine, with parts broken away, and show-v ing the boom intrench-digging position; 2 is an enlarged fragmentaryrear end elevation of the machine, withparts removed andparts broken away. Fig. Sis anenlarged fragmentary cross-section on the line 33 in Fig. 1. Fig. i is a side elevation of the swinging boom-carrying arm or frame, with a part broken away, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section on the line 55 in Referring to the drawings, 1 designates'the frame of an excavating machine mounted on suitable tractor means :2 and having various operatingunits mounted thereon, as is customary with machines of this character. The frame is also provided with a superstructure or frame-work provided at its rear end with arcuate vertically extending track-bars l. These track-bars are two in number, one being disposed at each side of the machine, and extend upwardly and forwardly in-curvedform from a point, in the present instance, slightly below and to the rear of the rear end of the frame 1 to a point at the rear end of the top portion of the super-structure 3. These track-bars are shown as of angle-iron form, although this is not essential to the invention, and as having guard-plates5 attached tothe forwardly extending flanges thereof and also to the frame structures land 3.

The boom 6 is attached at its upper end to a horizontal shaft 7 for both pivotal swinging movements in a vertical plane and lateral shifting movements. The shaft 7 is attached at each end to a respective swinging arm structure or frame 8, the lower end of which ismounted on a shaft 9 for free swinging movements in a vertical plane relative thereto. The shaft 9 constitutes a driven shaft of one of the power-transmitting units mounted on the frame 1 andis the source from which the bucket-chains 10 of the boom receive their power, as hereinafter described.

Each swinging frame 8 is of triangular form with thelsmall or apex end thereof mounted on the shaft 9, or in coaxial relation thereto, and with its (basedisposed at its upper end and constituting a cross-bar 11 attached at its respective ends to the upper ends 7 of bars 12, forming the side members of the triangularframe. The bars 12 are connected at the lower or apex end of the frame8 by a bearing member 13. adapted for mounting coaxial to shaft 9. The bars 12 are'preferably of angle-iron form and have two of their flanges projectingtoward each other and connected by a plate 13. I i

The cross'bars 11 of the swinging frames 8 have bearings at their lower ends for receiving the respective ends of the shaft 7 and have bearings at their upper ends in which the respective ends of a driven shaft 14 are journaled. The shaft 14 carries a sprockets wheel 15 at one end outside the respective arm 8, and this wheel is connected by va sprocket-chain 16to a sprocket-wheel (not shown) on one end of the drive shaft 9'. It is thus apparent that rotation is .communi cated to the shaft 14 from the shaft 9 through the chain and sprocket-wheel connection.

The bucket-chains 10, which are customarily two in number and disposed in spaced parallel relation, as well understood in the art, have their upper ends passing around respective drive sprocket-wheels 17, mounted on the shaft 14 for turning. movements therewith and for sliding movements axially thereof. For this purpose, the shaftin the present instance is squared intermediate the frames 8. The sprockets17 are Connected by a sleeve 18 and this sleeve is clamped between the members of a two-piece separable link 19 at its upper end, while the lower end thereof is slidingly engaged with theshaft 7 between the spaced shaft-engaging arms 20 at the upperend of the boom 6. It is apparent that an lateral adjusting movements of the boom 6 on the shaft 7 will impart a corresponding adjusting movement to'thelink 19 and sprocket 17 on the shaft 14.

The boom 6 has a pair of arms 21 projecting downwardly therefrom in outwardly spaced relation to the shaft 7 and slidingly mounted on ashaft 22, which is disposed in parallel relation to the shaft 7 and mounted at its ends in supporting blocks or shoes 23 that rest on the respective curved bars 4 for sliding movements lengthwise thereof. To facilitate such sliding movements, the blocks 23 are provided with anti-friction rolls 24 for engagement with the guide-bars. These blocks preferably have flanges at their outer edges which engage around the flanges of the guidebars 4 to retain the boom-supporting means to the guide-bars during digging operations.

While various means may be employed for eftectinglateral adjustment of the boom on the shafts 7,22, a convenient manually operative means for accomplishing this is illustrated in Fig. 3, wherein a threaded rod 25 projects outwardly from each arm 21 through an anchoring collar 26, clamped to the shaft 22, and a nut 27 is mounted on the outer end of each rod and cooperates with the collar to effect adjustment of the boom. It will be understood that the manner of effecting lateral adjustment of the boom forms no part of the prescnt invention and that the means shown is merely illustrative of one means'for the purpose. It is common in the art to-effect lateral boom adjustment by various manually and automatically operated means.

The means employed for controlling the vertical swinging movements of the boom is illustrated in the present instanceas including a draft member 28 of chain-form extending from each side block 23 upwardly and rearwardly along the respective guide-bars 4 in contact therewith and being of a length to extend from a point to the rear of the upper ends of the guide-bars to the respective side block 23 when at the lower end of its guidebar. A guide 29 is provided at the upper end of each guide-bar to retain the draft-chain 28 in proper relation thereto. A cable and pulley connection is provided between the upper end ofeach chain 28 and an operating drum 30 on the frame 1, such connection in the present instance comprising a cable 31 which extends upward from the drum 30around a set of guide-sheaves 32 on the upper forward end portion of the super-frame 3 and a set of sheaves 33 attached to the upper ends of the respective chains 28, one end of thee-able being anchored to the frame structure as at 34. It will be understood that a separate cable 31 is-provided for each chain.

The swinging frames 8 have their upper end portions'connected at the forward sides thereof by a hood 35 which is open at its rear side to. permit the chain-buckets 36 to pass therethrough, and is adapted to guide the diggings to the subjacent lateral conveyor. 37 when discharged from the buckets at the upper end of the bucket-chain run. When the frames 8 are swung forward to elevate the boom, the-lower forward end edge of the guide-chute, formed by said frames, and the hood 35, passes upward and forward over a said frame with the swinging axes of the boom and chain members thereof spaced in parallel relation to each other and to the swinging axis of the frame, thus providing a pivotal-carrying means for the boom memher which is separate and distinct from the 7' driving means for the chain member, whereby said driving member is not subjected to any strains incident to the weight and action of the boom and its associated parts; that the swinging movements of the excavating meansrelative to the swinging frame is controlled by the movement of the shoes or blocks 23 on the guide-rails 4, said blocks being in pivotal supporting connection with the boom, and that the control means for the swinging movements of the swinging frame and attached partscomprises the draft members 28 and their cable and sheave connection with the drum 30, the connection of the draft members with the swinging frame 8 being through 1 the boom from the side blocks 23. Itis also apparent that the excavating means is shiftable to any desired position transversely of the machine'frame, andv lengthwise of the shafts 7, 14 and 22, to suit the work to be i performed, and without in any way disturbing the relationship of the parts constituting the excavating means.

It is preferable to strike the arc of the guide-bars 4 from a point considerably below Cit and somedistance to the rear of the swinging axis of the frame 8, so that the distance between said axis and the guide-bars gradually lengthens downward from the upper ends of said bars. This causes the excavating means to assume a greater inclined and better excavating position when lowered into a trench than would otherwise be the case.

It is also preferable to dispose the shaft 14: at a somewhat greater distance from the swinging axis 9 of the frame 8 than is the shaft'7, so that when the frame is swung forward to a position in which the boom 6 elevated, the axis of the shaft 14 will have lowered below the extension of a line drawn axially through the boom 6 lengthwise there of and the shaft 7, thus effecting a slackening of the chain 10, so as to release its tension when the boom is in inoperative position.

\Ve wish'it understood that our invention is not limited to any specific form orconstruction of the parts, as it-is capable of numerous modifications and changes without departing from the spirit of the claims.

Havin'gthus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Unitedstates Letters Patent is 1. In an excavatingmachine, a swinging frame, control means therefor, a plurality of shafts carried by the swinging frame parallel to its swinging axis, excavating means carried by said frame and including a boompivotally carried by one of said shafts and a bucket-carrying chain connected to and driven by the other of said shafts, and drive ieans for said last shaft.

2. In an excavating machine, a vertically swinging frame, control means therefor, a live shaft and a dead shaft carried by the frame, one in advance of the other, excavatin means including aboom and a bucketcarrying chain, said boom being pivotally carried by the dead shaft and said chain having driven connection with the live shaft, means for driving the live shaft, and means controlling the swinging movements of said boom relative to said frame when swinging therewith.

3. In an excavating machine, avertically swinging frame, control means therefor, a live shaft and a dead shaft carried by said frame in parallel relation to the swinging axis of the frame and to each other, means for driving the live shaft, excavating means including a boom carried by and swingingly projecting from the dead shaft and a bucketchain in driven connection with thelive shaft, guide means stationary with respect'to the swinging axis of said frame, and means carried by the boom and coacting with said guide means to effect predetermined vertical swingin movements of the excavatingmeans relative to said frame when the frame is moved.

I. In an excavating machine, a frame vertically swingable about a fixed axis, a plurality of shafts carried by the outer end of said frame in parallel relation, one. in ad vance of the other, means for driving the foremost of said shafts from a point adjacent the 5. In an excavating machine, a frame vertically swingable abouta fixed axis, a plu 'rulity of shafts carried by'the outer end: of

said frame in parallel relation, one in advance of the other, means for driving the fore most of said shafts-from a point adjacent the swinging axis of the frame, excavating means including a boom and a bucket-carrying chain carried by said frame for swinging move ments therewith and verticalswingin'g movements relative thereto, the boom being 'connected to the rear one and the bucket-chain to the forward one of said shafts, means for imparting swinging movements to the frame and excavating means, and means" for causing the excavating means to have predetermined movements relative to said frame when the frame is swung.

6. Inan excavating machine of the class described, a frame mounted for vertical swinging movements, a driven shaft carried by said frame at its outer end, an excavating means including a boom and a bucket-carry ing chain, with the chain passing around and driven by said driven shaft and with the boom pivoted for vertical swinging move ments to the frame in offset relation to such shaft, and'means for controlling and guiding the respective swinging movements of the frame and excavating means.

7. In an excavating machine, a frame pivoted at one end for vertical swinging move ments, a driven shaft carried by said frame at its outer end, a boom connected tothe outer end of said frame to the rearof said shaft for vertical swinging movements relative to the frame, a bucket-carrying chain guided by said boom and extending around and in driving connection with said shaft, means for controlling the swinging movements of said frame, and means for imparting predetermined swinging movements to th'e'z'b )om'relative to the frame'when'moving therewith.

8. In an excavating machine, a frame pivoted at one end for vertical swinging move-1 ments, a driven shaft carried by said frame at its outer end in parallel relation to the swinging axis of the frame, excavat ng means including a boom and a bucket-carrying chain, the boom being pivote'dto said frame in rear of said shaft for vertical swinging movements relative thereto, the chain'h'aving iii) loo

driven connection with said shaft, upwardly and forwardly curved guide means at the rear of said frame-pivot, means carried by said boom to the rear of its pivoted connection with said frame and coacting with said guide means to impart predetermined swinging movements to the excavating means relative tothe frame when the frame is moved, and means for swinging the, frame.

9. In an excavating machine, a frame pivoted at one end for vertical swinging movements, a driven shaft carried by said frame at its outer end in parallel relation to the pivotal axis of said frame, excavating means including a boom and a bucket-carrying chain, the boom being pivoted to said frame in rear of said shaft for vertical swinging movements relative thereto, the chain having driven connection with said shaft, upwardly and forwardlycurved guide means at the rear of said frame-pivot, means carried by said boom to the rear of its pivoted connection with said frame and c'oacting with said guide means to impart predetermined swinging movements to the excavating means relative to the frame when the frame is moved, and draft means connected to the excavating means at a point to the rear of said frame and operable to impart vertical swinging movements to the frame.

10. In a machine of the class described, a frame pivoted at one end for vertical swinging movements, a driven shaft carried by said frame at its outer end in parallel relation to the pivotal axis of said frame, a second shaft carried by the frame to the rear of said first shaft, a boom pivotally carried by and pro- .jecting rearwardly and downwardly from said second shaft, a bucket-carrying chain guided by the boom and extending around and driven by said first shaft, upwardly and forwardly extending guides disposed at the rear of and fixed with respect to said framepivot, a boom support movable with the boom when swinging with the frame and guided in. such movements by said guide means, said support including a transverse shaft parallel to said other shafts and in supporting connection with the boom, said boom and chain being laterally adjustable axially of said shafts, and means controlling'the swinging movements of the frame.

11. In a machine of the class described, a frame pivoted at one end for vertical swinging movements, a driven and a dead shaft carried by said frame at its outer end in parallel relation to each other and to the frame-pivot, excavating means including a boom pivotally projecting from the dead shaft forvertical swinging movements and a bucket-carrying chain extending around said live shaft, a support for-said boom to the rear of the dead shaft, including a shaft parallel to said dead shaft, means guiding the movements of said support to impart predetermined swinging movements to the boom relative to the frame when swinging .therewith, said boom being laterally shiftat its outer end, one in advance of the other and in parallel relation to the swinging axis of the frame, a sprocket-wheel driven by the advance shaft and shiftable axially thereof intermediate the frame sides, a boom carried by and projecting rearwardly and downwardly from the other shaft and shiftable axially thereof, a connection between said boom and sprocket to cause them to have shifting movements in unison, supporting means for the boom to the rear of said frame and adapted to guide the swinging movements of the boom relative to the frame when the frame is swung, said boom having lateral sliding connection with said supporting means, a bucket-carrying chain guided by the boom and extending around and driven by said sprocket, and means for controlling the swinging movements of said frame.

13. In a machine of the class described, a frame pivoted at its lower end for vertical swinging movements, two shafts carried by said frame at its outer end, one in advance of the other and in parallel relation to the swinging axis of theframe, a sprocket-wheel driven by the advance shaft and shiftable axially thereof intermediate the frame sides, a boom carried by and projecting rearwardly and downwardly from the other shaft and shiftable axially thereof, a connection between-said boom and sprocket to cause them to have shifting movements in unison, supporting means for the boom to the rear of said frame and adapted to guide the swinging movements of the boom relative to the frame when the frame is swung, said boom having lateral sliding connection with said supporting means, a bucket-carrying chain guided by the boom and extending around and driven by said sprocket, and means for controlling the swinging movements of said frame.

14. In a machine of the class described, a. drive shaft, a frame projecting upwardly and rearwardly from said shaft for vertical swinging movements in coaxial relation thereto, a driven shaft carried by said frame at its outer end in parallel relation to the drive shaft, driving connection between said shafts, a sprocket-wheel on the driven shaft rotatable therewith and shiftable axially thereof between the frame sides, a third shaft carried by the outer end of said frame to the rear of and parallel to the driven shaft, a boom projecting downwardly and rearwardly from the third shaft for vertical swinging movements relative to the frame and lateral shifting movements axially of the shaft, a connection between said boom and sprocket to cause them to have shifting movements in unison, means for supporting the boom to the rear of said frame and guiding the boom for predetermined swinging movements relative to the frame when the frame is moved, the boom having lateral shifting connection with said supporting means, and means connected to said supporting means and guided in part thereby and operable to control the swinging movements of the frame.

15. In a machine of the class described, a swinging frame mounted for vertical swinging movements about an axis disposed at the lower end thereof, excavating means carried by the outer end of said frame for swinging movements therewith and vertical swinging movements relative thereto, said excavating means including a boom and a bucket-carrying chain having different points of connection with the frame spaced from each other in a direction longitudinally to the boom, means for driving the chain from its point of connection with the frame, and means for controlling the respective swinging movements of the frame and excavating means.

16. In a machine of the class described, a swinging frame mounted for vertical swinging movements about an axis disposed at the lower end thereof, excavating means carried by the outer end of said frame for swinging movements therewith and vertical swinging movements relative thereto, said excavating means including a boom and a bucket-carrying chain having different points of connection with the frame with the point of connection of the boom disposed closer to the swinging axis of the frame than is the point of connection of the chain, whereby the tension of the chain is relieved when the frame and boom have been swung to inoperative position, means for driving the chain, and means for controlling the respective swinging movements of the frame and excavating means.

17. In an excavating machine, a swinging frame, control means therefor, a plurality of shafts carried by the swinging frame parallel to its swinging axis, excavating means carried by said frame and laterally adjustable relative thereto and including a boom pivotally carried by one of said shafts and a bucket-carrying chain connected to' and driven by the other of said shafts, and drive means for said last shaft. 7

18. In an excavating machine, a swinging frame, control means therefor, a plurality of shafts carried by the swinging frame parallel to its swinging axis, excavating means carried by said frame and including a boom pivotally carried by one of said shafts and a bucket-carrying chain connected to and driven by the other of said shafts, said excavating means being adjustable laterally of the' 

